Computer Science > Data Structures and Algorithms

Abstract: Online graph problems are considered in models where the irrevocability
requirement is relaxed. Motivated by practical examples where, for example,
there is a cost associated with building a facility and no extra cost
associated with doing it later, we consider the Late Accept model, where a
request can be accepted at a later point, but any acceptance is irrevocable.
Similarly, we also consider a Late Reject model, where an accepted request can
later be rejected, but any rejection is irrevocable (this is sometimes called
preemption). Finally, we consider the Late Accept/Reject model, where late
accepts and rejects are both allowed, but any late reject is irrevocable. For
Independent Set, the Late Accept/Reject model is necessary to obtain a constant
competitive ratio, but for Vertex Cover the Late Accept model is sufficient and
for Minimum Spanning Forest the Late Reject model is sufficient. The Matching
problem has a competitive ratio of 2, but in the Late Accept/Reject model, its
competitive ratio is 3/2.